Fox News’ public-relations staff anonymously leaked a false story to a reporter, after which the
news channel’s PR department publicly denounced the reporter after he ran with it, a new book about
Rupert Murdoch’s media empire asserts.

In
Murdoch’s World, author David Folkenflik recounts an apparent “dirty tricks” operation by
Fox News’ public-relations staff, which is famous among media reporters for its tough tactics with
reporters it perceives as favoring other cable-news outlets or insufficiently promoting Fox
News.

When Matthew Flamm, a reporter for
Crain’s New York Business, began reporting a story about CNN’s surge in the ratings in
2008, he called Fox’s communication staff for comment, writes Folkenflik, a media reporter for NPR.
Flamm got no response to his inquiry.

Shortly thereafter, Flamm received a tip via email from an individual who said she was a Fox
News producer and was familiar with his ratings story. The alleged producer told Flamm that Fox
intended to install host Bill O’Reilly as its anchor on its upcoming primary-night coverage to
boost its sagging ratings.

Flamm never spoke with the producer before he put the story online. This was followed by an
official response from Fox, which appeared on TVNewser, a site that covers television news: “The
notion that O’Reilly would anchor election coverage of any kind is beyond absurd and wildly
inaccurate. If Flamm is so off base with this ‘fact,’ you’d have to question of all his other ‘
reporting’ when it comes to Fox News.”

Flamm, according to Folkenflik, phoned the producer. She had never heard of him. Flamm tried
contacting his tipster, but the account from which the tip had been sent was closed.

Folkenflik said the story was based on a former Fox News staffer with direct knowledge of the
episode.